Postdoctoral Scholar Dryland restoration

Colorado State University, United States

Updated: about 1 month ago
Location: Fort Collins, COLORADO
Deadline: 27 Mar 2023

Posting Details
Posting Detail Information


Working Title Postdoctoral Scholar Dryland restoration
Position Location Fort Collins, CO
Work Location Position is fully in-office/in-person
Research Professional Position Yes
Posting Number 202300517AP
Position Type Admin Professional/ Research Professional
Classification Title Postdoctoral Fellows
Number of Vacancies
Work Hours/Week 40
Proposed Annual Salary Range $55,000 - $60,000
Employee Benefits
Colorado State University (CSU) is committed to providing employees with a strong and competitive benefits package that supports you, your health, and your family. Visit CSU’s Human Resources website for detailed benefit plan information for permanent full-time and part-time faculty and administrative professional employees in the following University benefit areas: https://hr.colostate.edu/hr-community-and-supervisors/benefits/benefits-eligibility/ & https://hr.colostate.edu/prospective-employees/our-perks/ .
Desired Start Date
Position End Date (if temporary)
To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 03/27/2023
Description of Work Unit
The Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship at Colorado State University is an interdisciplinary academic program uniquely poised to advance education, research, and outreach in applied forest and rangeland ecology. Existing programs of emphasis in the department include forest and rangeland ecology, natural resource management, fire science, vegetation measurement and biometry, policy and planning, and restoration ecology. The Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship is housed within the Warner College of Natural Resources, which is home to five academic departments and several centers and institutes such as the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, the Colorado State Forest Service, Natural Resource Ecology Lab, the Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands and the Colorado Natural Heritage Program. These programs, institutes and centers provide a foundation for research, education and outreach. Linkages across departments and colleges, and with federal and state land managers and research centers, form a broader interdisciplinary foundation for increased impact. Strong relationships and partnerships with local, state and federal agencies foster significant applied research opportunities for the successful candidates. We expect the incumbents to foster opportunities for our students to become future leaders in the stewardship of forests and rangelands throughout the world.
Position Summary
The Dryland Ecology and Management Lab at Colorado State University (CSU) in Fort Collins, Colorado is recruiting a full-time Postdoctoral Scholar to join our team specializing in ecological restoration, trait-based approaches, and global change ecology. The applicant will work as part of a large project intended to better understand the controls on seedling recruitment across dryland ecosystems in the context of climate change. This research is supported by a cooperative agreement with the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and engages a large interdisciplinary science team.
Lab research: The Dryland Ecology and Management lab is a team of plant and soil ecologists working on basic and applied, cross-scale ecological questions, all to make drylands more resilient to global change. Currently, our team’s research is mainly focused on dryland restoration. We use a variety of methods ranging from field and greenhouse experiments, soil microbiome techniques, ecological modeling, remote sensing, and synthesis of large data sets.
Lab values and culture: We value creative, heard-working, conscientious, and enthusiastic individuals who have a passion for ecology and natural resource management. We are committed to creating a lab environment that feels welcoming and inclusive for people from any background or identity. We actively practice antiracist behavior and strive to make our environment inclusive and equitable for Black, Latinx and other people of color. We prioritize the mental health and emotional needs of all lab members over productivity and believe good science happens when people feel centered, included, and happy.
Role: The successful applicant for this position will lead a cross-regional data synthesis, greenhouse experiments and plant trait screening, and field experiments on dryland ecology and restoration in the context of climate change with some flexibility to explore individual interests in these areas. They will work collaboratively as part of an interdisciplinary research team at CSU and the USDA-ARS to develop climate-adaptive restoration strategies and trait-based approaches for overcoming barriers to establishment of native plant species in diverse dryland USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plantings in the western United States. The successful applicant will hold a Ph.D. in an ecology related field at the time of hire and have demonstrated experience and success conducting data analysis and ecological modeling in R, field ecology, mentoring of technicians and/or students, and the ability to work autonomously and as a member of a team.
Beginning Monday, August 16, 2021, Colorado State University has mandated vaccinations against COVID-19. Faculty and staff are required to submit their vaccine status or declare an exemption. More information about the vaccination mandate can be found on the CSU COVID-19 Information & Resources site here, https://covid.colostate.edu/pandemic-preparedness-team-broad-guidance-for-all-summer-and-fall-2021-activities/
Required Job Qualifications
  • PhD in Restoration Ecology, Ecology, Ecosystem Science, Plant Science, or other closely related field by the anticipated start date
  • Demonstrated strengths in data analysis, quantitative methods, and/or ecological modeling in R
  • Leadership in publishing peer-reviewed journal articles
  • Field ecology experience
  • Strong collaborative teamwork skills
  • Sound understanding of plant ecology and ecological controls on seedling recruitment
  • Must have a valid driver’s license or the ability to obtain a driver’s license or access to a licensed driver by the employment start date
Preferred Job Qualifications
  • Familiarity with dryland ecology and dryland restoration techniques
  • Experience with and/or expressed interest in trait-based ecology and approaches
  • Interest in quantitative synthesis of large data sets and/or meta-analysis
  • Experience mentoring early career scientists at the graduate and/or undergraduate level
  • Project management experience, strong organizational skills, and/or attention to detail
Diversity Statement
Reflecting departmental and institutional values, candidates are expected to have the ability to advance the Department’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Essential Duties


Job Duty Category Research
Duty/Responsibility
Plan and conduct independent research including experimental design, data collection, conducting data analysis, and preparing manuscripts
Percentage Of Time 55
Job Duty Category Project Management
Duty/Responsibility
Manage field and greenhouse research projects (e.g., tasks: space allocation, project budgeting/purchasing materials, experimental setup, monitoring scheduling)
Percentage Of Time 15
Job Duty Category Supervision
Duty/Responsibility
Supervise and mentor graduate/undergraduate students and/or research technicians through regular meetings
Percentage Of Time 15
Job Duty Category Outreach and Technology Transfer
Duty/Responsibility
Presentation of project results to internal and external parties. Technology transfer to land managers, including writing technical references. Organizing meetings and workshops.
Percentage Of Time 10
Job Duty Category Other
Duty/Responsibility
Other actives as assigned 
Percentage Of Time 5

Application Details


Special Instructions to Applicants
Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications in the announcement to be considered for hire. Apply no later than March 27th, 2023 for full consideration. Mailed or emailed applications will not be accepted.
Upload each of the items below individually as a Word Document (.doc), PDF (.pdf), or Rich Text Format (.rtf). Please note that incomplete applications cannot be considered. Please remove social security numbers and birth dates from application materials. A complete application consists of:
  • Statement of Qualifications (one-page letter addressing each qualification described in the announcement) uploaded in the ‘Cover Letter’ slot.
  • Resume
  • References – please include within your application contact information for 3 professional references including at least one supervisor.


    • References will not be contacted without prior notification of candidates.
    Conditions of Employment Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires)
    Search Contact Caroline Havrilla (Caroline.havrilla@colostate.edu)
    EEO Statement
    Colorado State University is committed to providing an environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, age, creed, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or pregnancy in its employment, programs, services and activities, and admissions, and, in certain circumstances, marriage to a co-worker. The University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Colorado State University is an equal opportunity and equal access institution and affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and Colorado State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. The Office of Equal Opportunity is located in 101 Student Services.
    The Title IX Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Title IX Programs and Gender Equity, 123 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-1715, titleix@colostate.edu .
    The Section 504 and ADA Coordinator is the Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu .
    The Coordinator for any other forms of misconduct prohibited by the University’s Policy on Discrimination and Harassment is the Vice President for Equity, Equal Opportunity and Title IX, 101 Student Services Building, Fort Collins, Co. 80523-0160, (970) 491-5836, oeo@colostate.edu .
    Any person may report sex discrimination under Title IX to the Office of Civil Rights, Department of Education .
    Background Check Policy Statement
    Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

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